How long does it take to get a reply? (FAQ)

Who is Eros? (IFAQ)

What was the Lousiana Purchase? (IFAQ)

Are all letters submitted answered? (FAQ)

What is author Mark Twain's real name? (IFAQ)

How often is the site updated? (FAQ)

What is the longest river in Europe? (IFAQ)

Does Harlan edit the letters he receives? (FAQ)

What is the thalamus? (IFAQ)

Where is submitted content published? (FAQ)

What is a Pygmy? (IFAQ)

What are Harlan's qualifications? (FAQ)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How long does it take to get a reply?

Responses can take anywhere from one week to several weeks. Due to huge volume of questions submitted - not all letters can be answered. Check out the archives and see if a similar topic has been addressed.

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Who is Eros?

The Greek and Roman God of love (Roman name Cupid).

 

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What was the Lousiana Purchase?

The United States purchased the Lousiana Territory in 1803. President Thomas Jefferson bought the land from France, fearing the French might want to start an Empire in North America. The land extended from the Mississipi River to the Rocky Mountains and it more than doubled the land of the United States.

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Are all the letters submitted answered?

All letters submitted are read by Harlan. Sometimes, Harlan reads them outloud and mumbles an answer, but he can't answer all letters received.

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What is author Mark Twain's real name?

Samuel L. Clemens.

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How often is the site updated?

The "Letters of The Week" are updated once a week. That's why they are "Letters of the Week." The rest of the pages are constantly being updated. This site is always changing (mostly for the better!).

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What is the longest river in Europe?

The Volga River. It starts in the hills northwest of Moscow and flows southeastward all the way to the Caspian Sea. It's more than 2200 miles long.

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Does Harlan edit the letters he receives?

Harlan edits letters for clarity and grammar before they are published. Due to space constraints and quality control mild editing is often necessary.Harlan is careful not to alter the content or integrity of letters - unless of course, the letter has no integrity.

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What is the thalamus?

The area of the brain coordinating nerve impulses that relate to the senses of hearing, touch, taste, and sight.

 

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Where is submitted content published?

Letters submitted may be published on the web, in newspapers, in books, in magazines, on radio, on TV, on line, and via any other media existing now or in the future (whatever the future may hold).

 

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What is a Pygmy?

A member of any ethnic group in which the height of the adult male averages less than 4 feet, 11 inches. You can find Pygmy tribes in the dense rain-forest areas of central Africa, Southern India, Malaysia and the Phillipines.

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What are Harlan's qualifications?

Harlan has been writing this column for close to 8 years. Over these years, he has consulted leading experts in various fields (including strawberry fields, cotton fields, and Marshall Fields) while carefully preparing replies for his Help Me, Harlan! forum. Harlan is NOT a psychologist, physician, or therapist. He's just seen a lot, heard a lot, and researched a lot.

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Infrequently Asked Questions from: "The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy," by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, James Trefil.